O'Side Harbor Report
 

I went out this morning on a Mission to catch my first Halibut! I Put my Kayak in the water at about 7:45 AM and paddled directly out to the Channel going into the Camp Pendleton Harbor. I ran into a gentlemen named Patrick who was kind enough to give me some pointers and we ended up fishing for a few hours together...

Ok, for the good stuff, Started out setting my drift on the outside of the channel working my way along the rock with a 4in. Swim bait with UniButter and snagged a little lizard fish to start, then a few minutes later I hooked into a small Spotty.. The UniButter has me convinced! After drifting with Swim Baits I decided to switch it up and go with a Trap Rig and Frozen Sardines w/ a little UniButter. On my third drift I got hit hard and hooked into about a 4-5 LB. Spotty. I was stoked with just that, then along my 5th or 6th drift :reeling: my pole was bent and I reeled up my first Halibut and to my surprise it was a decent size..

Patrick was kind enough to lend me his paddle so I could measure it and as I was getting ready to measure it jumped of my hook:linesnap:. Totally a rookie mistake. At Least Patrick was there and I have a witness. She was a Beauty!

All in all it was a great morning on the water.

Nice going!:luxhello:

Nice! I've fished that area a bunch of times and still have not been able to pull a legal hali out of there.

Hali
 

It was really close to legal, if not over 22". Nice thick fish to boot. The day was fun, even when that guy in the blue kayak chose to paddle right up to you and fish 6 feet from you 🎱. Nice meeting you Anthony.:cheers1:

Congrats on your first flatty.:luxhello:

Congratz on the butt mang. I hope to do the same in the coming months.

Sorry I didn't make dude. My half day turned out alright, no yellows though. Like I said, I'll be be out there in the morning the next couple of weeks, so hit me up!

Way to go out and make it happen. Hopefully the next flattie doesn't need to be measured.

Next time your will bag it.

Live and Learn Brotha!!

Make sure you have some sort of measuring device on you. I have never been asked for one by the DFG but I believe you are required to carry one on board. I have a sticker on my paddle and one of the flimsy ones that the tailors use to measure you, that one is kept in my PFD. Imagine if Patrick wasn't around and you assumed it was legal but when you land the DFG checks your catch and its only 21 inches.

Additionally, if you're going to fish for hali's get yourself a promar net from OEX or get one of those jaw clamps, you won't regret buying them.

Last but not least.....practice CPR.

good luck out there and hope the next one is a 20lb + Hali !!!!

I was the guy in the blue yak, and I accidentally drifted close once and your talking neck haha wow, I'll make sure and not fish anywhere near u two. And yes I got a toad :aetsch:

Rza
 

Hey man, no harm in the proximity of the yaks. We were laughing at how you were so focused that you didn't realize we were there. Sorry if it came out wrong. I figured you were going to get one. Your chovies were getting stripped on every drift. Great job on getting one to stick🍻.